Piano-action.



J.DOYLB. PIANO ACTION.

APPLICATION TILED M11129, 1907.

Patented June 6, 1911.

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TH-E NDRRIS PETERS co., WASHINGTON, o. c.

J. DOYLE. PIANO ACTION. APPLICATION IILED HA B. 29, 1907.

Patented June 6, 19 11.

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ammkm JOSEPH DOYLE, OF WEST INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

PIANO-ACTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 29, 1907.

Patented June 6, 1911.

Serial No. 365,268.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH DOYLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Vest Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano-Actions, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to improvements in piano-forte actions. Its objectsare to provide for securing the, easy and effective action of theoperative parts, and to reduce to the minimum frictional contact betweenthe same, especially having in view to avoid any rebounding tendency ofthe hammer, however rapid may be strokes of the key.

Other advantages incidental to the construction and operation of myinvention will be apparent from the subjoined illustration anddescription thereof.

Said invention consists of certain structural features orinstrumentalities substantially as hereinafter fully disclosed andspecifically pointed out by the claim.

In the accompanying drawing disclosing the preferred embodiment of myinvention Figure 1 is a partly side elevation and partly sectionalelevation thereof with the parts in the position they assume when a keyhas been depressed as in striking it. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailedperspective view more fully disclosing certain parts of the invention.Fig. 3 is a detailed broken sectional view taken through the lower orweighted end of the abstract. Fig. 4 is. a like view produced throughthe wippen and the jack at their point of connection.

In carrying out my invention, I suitably arrange in position so as to beengaged by by a suitably weighted key 1, an abstract 2 which ispivotally connected to and supports the wippen 3. The lower orkey-engaging end of the abstract 2 is suitably weighted to insure itsposition and ready downward movement after having been elevated by thekey as in operating or playing the instrument. The weighting of saidabstract is preferably effected by running up into its lower end a screw1 projecting sufflciently beyond the same to allow of fixing thereon apreferably brass casing or shell 5, and filling in the latter preferablywith lead or wood. Said thus filled-in or weighted casing 5 has alsofixed therein two upstanding pins 6 so related to the screw 4 to provideby inserting any suitable pointed instrument in between said screw andeither of said pins, and exerting the requisite leverage thereon, forthe ready running up or down of the weight or casing 5 to provide tothat extent for varying the length of said abstract, as occasion mayrequire. Said lever-supporting abstract 2 has also pivotally connectedthereto a wippen 7 having one end pivoted to a flange 8 suitably securedto the flange-rail 9. Said wippen 3, is pivotally connected to a secondflange 1O suitably secured to the hammer-rail 11 of the instrument; andfrom the upper end of said wippen projects an upstanding spoon or arm 12engaging the spring pressed lever 13 of the damper 14 fixed to awire-rod 15 in turn fixed to said lever 13. Thedamper lever 13 ispivotally supported upon a downward and rearward inclined flange 16 withits forward or upper end suitably secured to the upper end of saidhammer-rail 11; the upper surface of said end of said flange 16 beinghorizontal to aid in directing the securing screw or fastening for saidflange straight down thereinto as it is screwed into the flange and itshead resting squarely thereon, as is apparent. The flange 16 is soinclined to permit of the requisite movement or leverage of thedamper-lever 13 and al-. low the latter to be readily engaged by thespoon or arm 12.

A jack 17 has its lower end preferably formed with a web-like portion 18pivoted ina slot 19 in the lower end of the wippen 3. -The ack 17 iscontrolled by a preferably coiled spring 20 suitably connected theretoand to the wippen 3, to automatically return said jack to its initialposition; Saidjack 17 has its upper end-portion 6 arranged to standsufliciently away from the hammerbutt to avoid interference therewithwhen the hammer is thrown to the string.

The hammer 21 has its shank or stem 22, whose rearward movement islimited by the felt-equipped hammer-rest rail a, fixed to and carried bythe butt-member 23 having its bottom-edge equipped with a felt-pad 23*;said butt-member is pivoted about centrally of its rear edge-portion toa third flange 24: suitably secured to the rail 11 and so disposed,being inclined forward and upward, to be removed out of the plane of themovement of the hammer-butt and hammer shank or stem. Said hammer-butt23 is suitably recessed as at 25 in its forward edge, and the recess 25has suitably secured in it a felt-piece 26 against which rests initiallya the upper effective end of the jack 17. to lessen friction and wearand deaden noise, as would otherwise occur from contact between theseparts, said hammer-butt also having applied to its said edge, above saidrecess, a preferably buckskin-piece 26 to further guard against the sameobjections.

A suitable felt-equipped stop 27, readily adjustable by its carryingscrew 28 working in a bracket or rail 29 suitably secured in place, iselfective for imparting the retractive movement of the j aek 17, as seenin Fig. 1 said stop having engagement with an also felt-equippedextension or heel 30 of the latter as said jack is actuated to throw itforward or away from the hammer-butt, as will be noted.

The tape or bridle 31 is connected to the hammer butt 23, and extendsthrough a slot 19 in the wippen 3, and is connected at its other or freeend to a wire rod 32 connected to the lever 7. The rod 32 is providedwith a loop member 34 and a hook member 34* at its outer end. The tape31 is provided with a slitted end 33 which is received beneath the hookmember 346*, and then the slitted end is passed over the loop member 34.

A preferably flat-metal spring 36, having one end preferably held to thewippen 3 by a binding screw '37, has its upper forwardly projectingend-portion effective when the key is depressed, for engagement with thefelt-gpad 23 upon the bottom portion of the hammer-butt 23 as in Fig. 1.Said spring thus provides as the key is actuated for delivering theefiective action of the key to the hammer-butt; and the hammer-head maybe held slightly away from and out of immediate contact with the stringby ressing forcibly down upon and thus 'holc ing the key. A suitablyactuated and supported cam 39, is arranged for engagement with thedamper-lever 13 for taking off the damper when required.

It will be noted that the connection be tween certain parts is such thatthe jack 17 may be retracted by hand so as to readily obtain access tothe spring 36 when it may be desired to readjust the same, for whichlatter purpose the secured end of said spring is upward curved orrounded as at 40 and has the binding screw 37 passed through saidrounded portion and by accordingly turning said screw the upper portionof said spring may be more or less raised as may be required. It will bealso noted that the hammer-butt as well as the rear end of the key maybe weighted as at 41, 4:2, respectively, with lead or otherwise forobvious reasons.

I claim An upright piano action comprising an abstract, a wippenconnected to the abstract, a hammer-rail, a hammer butt pivotallyconnected to the hammer rail, the lower end of the hammer butt extendingbelow the pivotal connection, a jack pivoted to the wippen engaging thehammer butt for causing the hammer to be operated upon the move ment ofthe wippen, a resilient spring'eheck mounted on the wippen having oneend fastened to the wippen and bent to present a convex surface, thebody of the spring projecting upwardly, and the free end of the springextending from the body portion and presentinga curved surface, saidcurved free end located beneath the lower end of the hammer butt andadapted to engage the hammer butt after it rebounds, and means passingthrough the convex end of the spring check for fastening thespring-check to the wippen and for regulating the position of the curvedfree end of the spring check- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature,in presence of "two witnesses.

' JOSEPH DOYLE.

Witnesses: iJioNAs' P. BRINOKLEY,

InNRy HOLT- Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Uommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. j

